Next of Kin (and relationship): William John Clarke (Father)
Date of enlistment: October 10th, 1940
City and province of enlistment: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Essay
Gerald Francis Clarke
Sargent Pilot R71424 – R.C.A.F
Personal Info:
Born in Calgary, Alberta, young Gerald Francis Clarke would move to Winnipeg Manitoba as a young boy along with his 3 brothers and 2 sisters, who were all within 9 years of age. He was raised in a roman catholic household. His father, William John Clarke, was a salesman and it is assumed that his mother, Mary Clarke, stayed at home to raise the 6 children. He lived in the river heights area, on borebank. He lived along side 3 brothers and 2 sisters, who were all within 9 years of age. His He stood at an average height, just over 5 feet, 8 inches. He had brown hair and blue eyes, and was a slender yet healthy man, weighing at 133 pounds. Gerald Clarke looked to have a bright future, enjoying things like hockey and rugby, as well as having experience in technical work and office work. He also had a great hobby for music, which showed he was quite creative. Gerald went to a business college, but he decided to give this up; along with his sports and hobbies to apply for the Army. On October 10th, 1940, the once young St. Pauls student’s life would be changed forever. This was the Day he was enlisted to the Army. He was very confident, accurate, and quick to think. It is believed that for these reasons, he was recommended for an observer or pilot. His flying history (before the air force) accumulated of 5 hours of being a passenger in a big transport air plane. The well groomed, polite, persistent, ready to serve, intelligent seemed to be a good fit to became part of the Air force.
Gerald Francis Clarke married the love of his life on april 10th, 1941. Him and Adelaide Gray were married in Hamilton, Ontario, in the 1st united church. Together, they had one child. They had a girl by the name of Gloria Marie Clarke.
Military:
Gerald Clarke, roughly 20 old, and he decided to put his life on the line for his country as a pilot. He made is declaration of attestation on October 10th, 1940. He declared to "Engage to serve on active service anywhere in Canada, and also beyond Canada and overseas, in the Royal Canadian Air Force for the duration of the present war, and for the period of demobilization thereafter, and in any event for a period of not less than one year, provided His Majesty should so long require my services". This was the oath, and the most life changing decision a young man could ever make. Young Gerald Clarke made an oath to put his life on the line for his country. The young, intelligent, and quick thinking man was given the role to fly a spitfire air craft for the R.C.A.F. Gerald Francis Clarke would soon become a Flight Sargent.
This young 22 year old man with a bright future was killed in action for his country on February 28th, 1942. At first, they presumed that he was killed while preforming air operations and has been thought of to be an accident. The final report said Clarke was escorting Blenheim bombers to Ostend when his spitfire aircraft (#X4666) was attacked and shot down over the English Channel by German FW-190 and ME-109 fighter aircraft.
Grave:
Flight Sergeant Pilot Clarke had no known grave, but his name was inscribed on the Runnymede War Memorial, Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey, England.
“The Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede commemorates by name over 20,000 airmen who were lost in the Second World War during operations from bases in the United Kingdom and North and Western Europe, and who have no known graves. They served in Bomber, Fighter, Coastal, Transport, Flying Training and Maintenance Commands, and came from all parts of the Commonwealth. Some were from countries in continental Europe which had been overrun but whose airmen continued to fight in the ranks of the Royal Air Force.
The memorial was designed by Sir Edward Maufe with sculpture by Vernon Hill. The engraved glass and painted ceilings were designed by John Hutton and the poem engraved on the gallery window was written by Paul H Scott. The Memorial was unveiled by The Queen on 17 October 1953.” (CWGC.org)
Military Service Record
Age (at death): 22 years, 10 months, 30 days
Force: Airforce
Unit: Spitfire Aircraft #X4666, Overseas, R.C.A.F
Service Number: R71424
Honours and Awards:
Photograph:
Next of Kin (and relationship):Getia Adelaide Gray (Wife)
Date of Death: February 28th, 1942
Country of Burial: United Kingdom
Cemetery: Runnymede Memorial
Grave Reference: Panel 103
Location: Englefield greaen, near egham, 32 Km west of london
Book of Remembrance: on page 64
Page 64 of the Canadian Book of Remembrance - 1942
Aces Of WWII. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. <http://www.acesofww2.com/Safrica/aces/malan.html>. This was a website that recognized certain war veterans who fought in World War II. The website explains the memorial service and honors the fallen heroes.
Canada. R.C.A.F. Royal Canadian Air Force: Attestation Paper. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. This was one of the war records of the veteran. I used it because it gave basic info such as father, mother, his marriage and his religion. These were just some of the info. This is what the war veterans had to fill out to apply to fight in the war.
Certificate of Medical Examination . N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. This was one of the simple war records I used. It let me know that he had no health defects. It also gave me information on his outward appearance such as height, weight, and eye color.
“Gerald Francis Clarke.” Canada at War. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. <http://www.canadaatwar.ca/memorial/world-war-ii/50/>. I used this cite to confirm my veterans burial cite. It has basic information on many other war veterans as well.
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/collections/virtualmem. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2012. <http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/collections/virtualmem>. The first cite I used was crucial to finding certain war veterans that participated in different battles. I used it because it gives military service information, along with additional information and burial information. It has a range of materials about Canada’s sacrifices in war, and the military history.
Manitoba. Province of Manitoba: Official Registration of Death. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. This was one of the last records of the casualty because it was his death registration. This gave information on his birthday, his childhood house, reason for death and other simple information. Of course, it also gave his date of death.
R.C.A.F. Interview Report. Winnipeg: n.p., n.d. Print. This was another war record that was crucial to finding information on my war veteran. This was more to give a better idea on his personality and who he was as a person. It gave information on things such as sports he played, hobbies, appearance, dress and personality.
Gerald Clarke - Sargent Pilot
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SpitI19a.jpg
| Service Personnel Information | Essay | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Military Service Record | | | | Grave Reference | | | | | Additional information/links | Gerald Clarke's War Records: |Service Personnel Information
View Larger Map 433 Borebank
Essay
Gerald Francis Clarke
Sargent Pilot R71424 – R.C.A.FPersonal Info:
Born in Calgary, Alberta, young Gerald Francis Clarke would move to Winnipeg Manitoba as a young boy along with his 3 brothers and 2 sisters, who were all within 9 years of age. He was raised in a roman catholic household. His father, William John Clarke, was a salesman and it is assumed that his mother, Mary Clarke, stayed at home to raise the 6 children. He lived in the river heights area, on borebank. He lived along side 3 brothers and 2 sisters, who were all within 9 years of age. His He stood at an average height, just over 5 feet, 8 inches. He had brown hair and blue eyes, and was a slender yet healthy man, weighing at 133 pounds. Gerald Clarke looked to have a bright future, enjoying things like hockey and rugby, as well as having experience in technical work and office work. He also had a great hobby for music, which showed he was quite creative. Gerald went to a business college, but he decided to give this up; along with his sports and hobbies to apply for the Army. On October 10th, 1940, the once young St. Pauls student’s life would be changed forever. This was the Day he was enlisted to the Army. He was very confident, accurate, and quick to think. It is believed that for these reasons, he was recommended for an observer or pilot. His flying history (before the air force) accumulated of 5 hours of being a passenger in a big transport air plane. The well groomed, polite, persistent, ready to serve, intelligent seemed to be a good fit to became part of the Air force.Gerald Francis Clarke married the love of his life on april 10th, 1941. Him and Adelaide Gray were married in Hamilton, Ontario, in the 1st united church. Together, they had one child. They had a girl by the name of Gloria Marie Clarke.
Military:
Gerald Clarke, roughly 20 old, and he decided to put his life on the line for his country as a pilot. He made is declaration of attestation on October 10th, 1940. He declared to "Engage to serve on active service anywhere in Canada, and also beyond Canada and overseas, in the Royal Canadian Air Force for the duration of the present war, and for the period of demobilization thereafter, and in any event for a period of not less than one year, provided His Majesty should so long require my services". This was the oath, and the most life changing decision a young man could ever make. Young Gerald Clarke made an oath to put his life on the line for his country. The young, intelligent, and quick thinking man was given the role to fly a spitfire air craft for the R.C.A.F. Gerald Francis Clarke would soon become a Flight Sargent.
This young 22 year old man with a bright future was killed in action for his country on February 28th, 1942. At first, they presumed that he was killed while preforming air operations and has been thought of to be an accident. The final report said Clarke was escorting Blenheim bombers to Ostend when his spitfire aircraft (#X4666) was attacked and shot down over the English Channel by German FW-190 and ME-109 fighter aircraft.Grave:
Flight Sergeant Pilot Clarke had no known grave, but his name was inscribed on the Runnymede War Memorial, Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey, England.“The Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede commemorates by name over 20,000 airmen who were lost in the Second World War during operations from bases in the United Kingdom and North and Western Europe, and who have no known graves. They served in Bomber, Fighter, Coastal, Transport, Flying Training and Maintenance Commands, and came from all parts of the Commonwealth. Some were from countries in continental Europe which had been overrun but whose airmen continued to fight in the ranks of the Royal Air Force.
The memorial was designed by Sir Edward Maufe with sculpture by Vernon Hill. The engraved glass and painted ceilings were designed by John Hutton and the poem engraved on the gallery window was written by Paul H Scott. The Memorial was unveiled by The Queen on 17 October 1953.” (CWGC.org)Military Service Record
Page 64 of the Canadian Book of Remembrance - 1942
Grave Reference
- Name of Cemetery: Runnymede Memorial
- Grave Reference: Panel 103
Include the diagram of the cemetery if possible. Also provide some information about the cemetery if possible.Runnymede Memorial
(http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/109600/RUNNYMEDE%20MEMORIAL)
Additional information/links
Works Cited
Aces Of WWII. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. <http://www.acesofww2.com/Safrica/aces/malan.html>. This was a website that recognized certain war veterans who fought in World War II. The website explains the memorial service and honors the fallen heroes.
Air Force. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 May 2012. <http://www.heritage.nf.ca/law/royal_air.html>.
Canada. R.C.A.F. Royal Canadian Air Force: Attestation Paper. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. This was one of the war records of the veteran. I used it because it gave basic info such as father, mother, his marriage and his religion. These were just some of the info. This is what the war veterans had to fill out to apply to fight in the war.
Certificate of Medical Examination . N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. This was one of the simple war records I used. It let me know that he had no health defects. It also gave me information on his outward appearance such as height, weight, and eye color.
“Gerald Francis Clarke.” Canada at War. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. <http://www.canadaatwar.ca/memorial/world-war-ii/50/>. I used this cite to confirm my veterans burial cite. It has basic information on many other war veterans as well.
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/collections/virtualmem. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2012. <http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/collections/virtualmem>. The first cite I used was crucial to finding certain war veterans that participated in different battles. I used it because it gives military service information, along with additional information and burial information. It has a range of materials about Canada’s sacrifices in war, and the military history.
Manitoba. Province of Manitoba: Official Registration of Death. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. This was one of the last records of the casualty because it was his death registration. This gave information on his birthday, his childhood house, reason for death and other simple information. Of course, it also gave his date of death.
R.C.A.F. Interview Report. Winnipeg: n.p., n.d. Print. This was another war record that was crucial to finding information on my war veteran. This was more to give a better idea on his personality and who he was as a person. It gave information on things such as sports he played, hobbies, appearance, dress and personality.
Gerald Clarke's War Records: